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Human Centred Technology - are we using them to their full advantage?

15 February 2016

How can we create technology that helps people be healthy and well? How can we make medical data work better? Are we developing new technologies to really fit people’s needs? I own my health data, don’t I?

These are just some of the questions to be posed at the inaugural Human Centred Technology Symposium on Health and Wellness Research at the University of Sydney tomorrow 16th February.

Human Centred Technology researchers are working to transform both our individual health and wellbeing, and our overarching healthcare system, states symposium convenor and Computer Science Professor, Judy Kay.

Innovations in technology need to be better at delivering real impact. For example,  the explosion of physical activity trackers and phone apps has yet to turn around the growing levels of obesity.

The symposium features presentations and panels by leaders in health and wellness from government, industry and university research.

It will showcase multi-disciplinary projects currently underway at the University. These draw on collaborations between engineers and many other disciplines.

The presentations include:                   

  • Improving the health and wellbeing of young adults with digital technology, Prof Margaret Allman-Farinelli (Nutrition) highlights digital technology to tackle obesity, one of the most wicked health problems in our western society.
  • Minimally invasive sensing of sleep apnea, Prof Philip de Chazal (Electrical Engineering), on the creation of low cost and convenient ways to better sleep.
  • eHealth and using data for change, Prof Tim Shaw (eHealth) on supporting clinicians’ decisions to improve patient outcomes.           
  • Novel technologies for promoting healthier behavior for children in New Caledonia, by Dr Olivier Galy (University of New Caledonia) at the University of Sydney, Assoc Profs Corinne Caillaud (Health Sciences) and Kalina Yacef, (IT) on work in New Caledonia to address problems of children who are too inactive and have poor eating habits.

Victoria Hollick

Media and Public Relations Adviser
Address
  • Level 5 School of Information Technologies Building J12